Pallet Town - Oak Ranch - 1257 hours local time - Day 105 of Ash Ketchum's Journey
The life of a military man could very much be summed up as 'hurry up and wait'. Kyoji Akamura was familiar with this. Until he was sent on this seeming suicide mission, that was very much his life: sitting on his ass, writing reports that all he had done that day was sit on his ass and occasionally try his luck at the dating game.
Then he met Ash. And other than dodging his younger siblings… every day was a new adventure. He LIKED it. But he had to make his report to command so they didn't write him off as dead or MIA. Or worse, AWOL. THEN they'd send an execution team after him. Ransei's security outweighed the life of one man.
It was cold, but it kept people away for almost 60 years.
"Am I missing anything, buddy?" Kyoji asked his yellow land shark, who blinked dumbly at the laptop screen before looking at his trainer.
"Gib?" 'You know I can't read that human stuff, right?' the land shark asked.
Kyoji grinned. Five days and he was still over the moon about being able to understand Pokemon.
"Maybe I should teach you." he said before rubbing both sides of Gible's fin, making him eyesmiled and want to lie down, making him make a happy 'Giiiibbb…'.
Still, he had to send off this report. It was a good thing he could piggyback off the remaining satellites in orbit to get a signal back home. Ransei DID help put them up, after all. They may not give two craps about Kyoji himself, but they certainly did care about the intelligence he provided.
"Ok...detailing how I met Ash…" Kyoji said as he proofread the report. "The whole Cinnabar thing…New Island... " he looked at Gible. "It's been an adventure."
"Giiiiiiib…" 'Keep petting me…' Gible warbled, Kyoji continuing to pet the yellow land shark, making him warble happily.
At the same time, Pikachu and Riolu were trying to get Ash out of his funk.
As soon as he got back from New Island, he sat down and cried. This had been going on and off since he got back.
"Ri?" 'Ash?' Riolu asked, jumping on the bed, Ash still stuck in his own mind. "Rio?" 'Please, talk to us.'
Pikachu just sighed as he nudged Ash. "Pikapi?" 'Ash, please. We're starting to get really worried,' he said. "Pika." 'You haven't done this since Latios died.'
Ash sniffed. "…He cared here." he whispered, making both of them turn their heads fast enough that they swore they got whiplash. "I… I kept saying he was a son of a bitch and he CARED here. I had a father that gave a damn and…"
"Pikapi." 'Ash, calm down,' Pikachu said. "Pika." 'You couldn't've known. You DIDN'T know until that fucking cat tore into your head just to make Mewtwo compliant.'
Riolu jumped up and gave Ash's head a hug. "Ri." 'You are not alone,' the Emanation Pokemon said as he held on. "Riolu." 'We are here. And we will help.'
Ash nodded weakly before something nudged against his door, making him turn his head towards the noise.
Three egg capsules were sitting there, keeping the eggs at a constant temperature as well as protecting them from the elements.
"Why'd you bring the eggs up here?" he asked, getting up to look at the ovaloid objects.
"Ri." 'Well, I noticed the levels or Aura within them begin to grow greatly this morning and I asked Mr. Akamura to assist me in bringing them here while Cyndaquil distracted Red and Yellow,' Riolu explained.
Ash blinked cluelessly. "I'm not an aura expert, Riolu." he said gently. "Can you dumb it down?" then the eggs started glowing.
"Pika." 'They're about to hatch,' Pikachu deadpanned, Ash taking that as a cue to get them the hell out of the containers, furiously unscrewing each top off before quickly and gently removing the blue egg first, placing it on the floor while getting the red one out next.
The yellow egg was last, Pikachu calmly steadying it before the first egg faded away, revealing a white-feathered bird that looked like a bigger Pidgey. At least that's what it looked like to Ash.
"Chirp?" 'Mommy?' asked the bird. "Chirp!" 'FOOD!'
"Ri." 'I will go get a bowl of berries,' Riolu said, running out of the room to get bird feed.
The albino Pidgey continued chirping for food before the red egg hatched, revealing… another bird. This one had a longer neck and more slender body, with a longer bill, more like Fearow.
Speaking of Fearow, where was Spearow? He hadn't seen his first unwitting catch in over two months.
(At the ranch, a bruised and dazed Spearow groaned as Dratini wrapped him again)
"Chirp!" 'Mama! Feed me!' cried the newly hatched bird, joining the first.
"Oh, boy," Ash said, even as Riolu came back, a massive bowl of berries in hand.
"Riolu?" 'Birds? That is somewhat cliche, no?' he asked, even as he handed the bowl to Ash, who plucked out Oran berries to feed to the two newly hatched birds, the white pidgey being first, the long-necked-and-billed being next.
The yellow egg finally hatched, revealing another pale white bird, with a very long beak, short body and very fluffy wings.
"SKREE!" 'Feed me!' cried the new bird.
They were giving him a headache… but really, it made him feel better.
He was REALLY screwed up. Maybe talking to that shrink would help.
Indigo Plateau - Pokemon League Headquarters - 1320 hours local time
Lance sighed as he called the meeting of all the Elite Four and living top eight gym leaders to order, Giovanni and Sabrina being the only exceptions.
He ran off to Johto to look for his son. She was with her father in Pallet Town and didn't need to be briefed.
"Alright, everyone, thank you for coming on such short notice," the Grand Champion of Johto and Kanto said. "I realize with the League coming up, you have challengers coming out the wazoo."
"I think I'm the only exception," Erika said. "I closed the gym to clean up my mess in Celedon."
"While I commend you doing your other job as gym leader, that doesn't mean you can ignore the other half." Lance said before coughing. "I presume everyone is aware of the… massive storm off Kanto's coast that Agatha has classified as 'Catagory Fuck You'?"
Bruno and Brock shared a brief chuckle while Lorelei facepalmed.
"I don't think anyone in southern Kanto DIDN'T notice." Blaine said, chuckling. "I thought my inn was going to go flying!"
"Anyway…" Lance said, continuing on. "We have determined the reason for it." he then brought out papers faxed over by Samuel Oak. "A clone of Mew caused that clusterfuck."
"…Who is STUPID enough to clone Mew?" Brock asked. "Everyone knows when you try that, you just create a new Pokemon species because Mew's DNA mutates too quickly! It's how we ended up with Porygon!"
Brock was correct: Porygon was the most recent example, but not the only one. The list included dozens, including Grimer and Muk.
"Apparently, Teams Rocket and Plasma," Agatha added. "They had the best geneticists on the planet create what is the closest clone of Mew in history. And what did they call it? Mewtwo."
"…they actually pulled it off?" Brock muttered, cupping his chin in thought. "How?"
"We'd have to ask the researchers themselves, but good luck finding them," Agatha shook her head. "But that aside, apparently this Mewtwo had a low outlook on humanity - after being Team Rocket's guinea pig, I could hardly blame him… but he was arrogant and narcissistic enough to wish for the destruction of all human and pokemon life on the planet, and repopulate it with his own cloned pokemon, bred with his ideals."
"That was doomed to fail," Blaine shook his head. "Groudon would never have it, Xerneas would step in… hell, Kyogre would probably be mad if someone else took her claim."
"They were…" Agatha pressed a button on the table - as images taken from the Pokedexes of the trainers present were shown, revealing… many Legendaries… at one spot…
Brock's eyes widened slightly "...there's never been a gathering of Legendaries like that, since…" he muttered.
"Since the Cipher War, yes." Bruno added. "The Battle of Ecruteak, if I remember correctly."
Those gathered bowed their heads in respect. That was not only the final battle of the Cipher war, it was also the most destructive: Ecruteak was laid to waste, the only building remaining intact being the Tin Tower.
With the burning of the Nihon capital, whatever unity they had left was gone and the URN descended into warlordism for nearly fifteen years.
Lance broke the silence. "The gathering of so many legendaries is worrying." he said. "Oak-Sensei's preliminary work has indicated those idiots created the most powerful Pokemon in existence, save the Creator, Arceus."
"Were I a religious person, I would call 'heresy'." Erika said. "Nothing is more powerful than the Creator."
"I agree, but in all honesty, Mewtwo is THE most powerful legendary we have knowledge of." Lance replied, looking through the papers. "Mew's flexibility was combined with amplified power. It's a good thing it's contained."
Daisy reached for the papers, then noticed something. "…Contained." she repeated. "Someone caught it?"
Lance gave them all a dead stare. "Yes… and guess who?"
There was a long pause, as Brock placed his head in his hands. "...the most powerful Pokemon in existence, save for the creator Pokemon…" he muttered. "Is in the hands… of a 14 YEAR OLD BOY?!"
"…basically," Agatha shrugged, "Ash was there first…"
"It's unlikely Ash will have the same delusions of grandeur as Ghetesis or Evice," Lance said, sighing at them panicking. "Ghetsis is an old man thinking he will rule the world and Evice… A Shadow Pokemon version of Aeroblast vaporized him."
"You sure about that?" Lorelei asked, as if giving that kind of power to a child was a good idea.
"Yes," said all of the gym leaders as well as Agatha, making the redhead sigh.
"Gang up on me, why don't you…" she muttered.
Celadon City - Gaffery's apartment - 1402 hours local time
Ash sighed. "I'm not sure how to start this." he said as he sat in a chair opposite the old man.
"Just tell me what you can." Gaffery replied. "I won't push you."
The Pallet trainer looked at the ceiling, closing his eyes. After what seemed like hours, he spoke up. "…I know who my father is." he finally said. "And I remember what happened to him."
"Oh, hell." his psychologist said, now VERY concerned for his patient. "Ash, I know everyone didn't tell you-"
"I was shellshocked into a near-coma." Ash deadpanned. "Red and Yellow weren't happy with Kyoji when he told them he knew and I remembered. And I made a web of lies to comfort myself."
"I don't want to sound insensitive, but you suffered third-degree burns. With your father shielding you from that Sacred Fire." Gaffery said as bluntly, yet gently, as possible. "You had the right."
Ash stopped looking at the ceiling and bowed his head. "I called him a bastard for abandoning me." he whispered. "He loved me." tears started falling from his eyes. "He died for me."
"Fathers protect their sons," Gaffery said, sighing. "It's what they're supposed to do. Even if it costs them everything." the old man looked at Ash. "I don't think he would've minded you cursing him out. He was a compulsive gambler, after all. He fell for your mother after losing a bet to her."
"What?" Ash half-cried and half-laughed. "H-how does that happen?"
"You actually wanna hear the story?" Gaffery asked. "That is something you'll have to ask your mother about…"
Ash chuckled. Picking his mom winning a bet, then his father marrying her...
He shook the images out of his mind. "Thanks." he said. "I needed this."
"Any time, kid." Gaffery said before the old man's Natu jumped on Ash's head and teleported him back to Pallet.
"May we live in interesting times." he said before his Natu landed on his head.
"Natu." he said, knowing what he said.
"I know it's a curse. It's true." the shrink said before pouring himself a glass of one of the few things Orre actually did well: booze.
Pallet Town - Ketchum Residence - 1403 hours local time
Serena cooed as she pet Ash's new birds.
Along with Ash, one of the few things her fractured self agreed on was a weakness for cute.
Ash's Gible was cute, but didn't seem to like her. Apparently, he wanted Ash with some girl named 'Dawn' from Sinnoh.
She would reserve judgement until she got a look at her. Part of her still wanted to 'eliminate the competition', but that more… lustful part of her looked at Misty and Anabel like they were her next victims and Iris… well, she was curious to see if the carpets matched the drapes, as the saying went.
That personality was, if nothing else… adventurous. Oddly enough, it felt like that personality was the only one trying to keep her other personalities in line… she had no idea how it did that, but… if it worked, it worked. If nothing else, it was better than them screaming at her like they had before.
'...can you actually hear me?' Serena thought to herself, curious if she'd get a reply.
"Why wouldn't we?" A snarky voice groaned, "Its not like we can GO anywhere…"
"Oi, be nice." A second, more… seductive voice chimed. "Of course we can hear you, darling."
'It feels… different now, after the whole Mewtwo thing…' Serena thought/spoke, gently petting the mystery birds.
"Yeah, the fucker tried to get in here, but… well, I think she scared him off or something." A more intellectual voice retorted. "We were scared out of our minds when he came knocking, but she just… I would rather not describe what she did…"
There was a perverted giggle in her mind "Oh, I just sent him a few… images, is all…" She laughed, "If you really want to fuck with him next time you see him… ask him about 'Moantwo'."
'...okay…' Serena nodded slowly. '...so… what exactly do I call you?'
"W-whatever do you mean?" A rather shy voice asked.
'Well, if you're all in my head… shouldn't you each have your own names?' Serena shrugged, 'At least that way, Ash - and me - can know exactly who we're dealing with at whatever time…'
"...I guess that makes sense," The Intellectual said. "What do you want to call us?"
'Well first off… how many of you are there?' Serena asked.
"Let's see, one… two… three...about five of us… six if we're counting you as the core personality… just don't make any more of us, we don't want to work the room - we like the pool table where it is."
'Pool table? You have a-' Serena paused, and sighed 'I almost fell for that.'
Then she heard the sound of pool table balls being hit in her head - causing her to jump a bit in surprise "Fall for what?" Her second voice asked.
Serena let out a loud, audible sigh 'Okay… that aside… let's get you in order. Have you called yourselves by any names until now?'
"Well, we've been calling the Yandere personality Yuno as of late," The second voice said, as the 'Yuno' personality growled. "We watched one of those shows Kyoji had on his laptop, and we thought the female lead fit her to a T."
'...okay…' Serena nodded. 'Who else?'
"Well, we've also got the intellectual here… she's pretty much a Kuudere…" The second personality said.
"...from studying the 'dere' tropes, I cannot argue with this…" The 'Kuudere' personality said.
'Awww, you sound cute.' Serena giggled softly. 'Hm… I think I'll call you Rey.'
'...this is acceptable.' The newly named 'Rey' acknowledged.
'Alright, anyone else in there?' Serena asked.
"Well, there's also the Tsundere-"
"I'M NOT A GODDAMN TSUNDERE!" A loud voice shouted, causing Serena to flinch a bit. "Why are we fawning over Ash so much! Sure we can do nice things for him, b-but it's not like we really like him! I-Idiots!"
'...yeah, I'm naming you Asuka,' Serena rolled her eyes.
"Oh don't you dare name me after that stupid red-haired-HRM!" Asuka's voice was muffled out.
"Just be nice, Asuka," The second voice giggled. "Alright, after her we've got the princess over here…"
"Hm," A prim and proper voice scoffed. "At least you're admitting it."
'Oh, so Himedere.' Serena shrugged. 'I guess that makes sense…'
"Of course it makes sense, we ARE a princess after all," Princess said with a thick Northern Galar accent, and Serena could feel the eyes being rolled by her. "If only Ash wouldn't take so long in asking our hand in marriage… we could be a queen by now!"
'Hold your horses Princess, he's got issues to work out first…' Serena sighed. 'Okay, so that's four… so what do I call you? I mean… you kinda seem to be the… ringleader I guess?'
"Oh, me?" The last personality giggled slightly. "Well… the name… Jade has a nice ring to it, personally… and I just like to have fun is all."
"You frequently imagine making passionate love to either Ash, one of those girls or both at the same time!" Asuka shouted. "Mostly both nowadays, you pervert!"
"Better then Yuno gutting them like a fish." Jade replied, Yuno grumbling in the back. "I at least recognize he needs not just us, Serena Yeonne Gabena, but the other girls, too."
"Come on, we don't even like him!" Asuka snapped. "Even if he's nice...and the first person to see us for us and not some noble title...and he's handsome…"
"See what I have to deal with here?" Jade muttered, as she sighed.
'Well… keep it up.' Serena said before Ash's Spearow flew in, looking at the newborns curiously.
"Spear?" he cawed before Misty came in, staring at Spearow for a minute and shuddering before moving on.
Serena didn't know why. What was wrong with Spearow?
Oak Ranch - 1426 hours local time
"You have got to get out of that habit." Ash said to Gligar, who looked sheepish as his trainer led him back to the main part of the Ranch after his talk with the old man.
"Gli." 'I can't help it! After all that training, I felt like I was...better.' Gligar replied, making Ash give him a look. "Gar." 'Sorry.'
"I don't mind you using your training with McCann, but you aren't any better then any other Pokemon under my care." Ash said. "Charizard, Squirtle, Sliggoo: I give you the same treatment. I WOULD have brought you in for my gym battle with Blaine...if you didn't run to your little corner of the ranch. Again."
Gligar looked guilty at that. "Gar." 'I need to break the habit.' he muttered. "Gligar!" 'I want to be my old self again! And earn it this time: saving you was worth it, but this time I want to evolve in battle!'
"Pika." 'Then quit fucking off to the darkest corner you can find.' Pikachu snapped, bat-scorpion and trainer looking at the electric-type, who simply shrugged. "Pi?" 'What? Tough love.'
Ash shook his head. "A gift and a curse." he muttered before seeing a yellow fin come towards him.
"...Gar?" 'Since when was Gible yellow?' the Fly Scorpion Pokemon asked.
"Gib-gib-gib-gib-gib-gib-gib-GIB!" 'Hello!' The yellow Gible launched out of the earth towards Gligar and…
*CHOMP*
Most of Gligar's body from the neck down ended up in the maw of the land shark, who simply warbled at making a new friend.
Gligar tried fighting him off before Ash and Pikachu heard leaves rustle, the latter sparking his cheeks threateningly.
Then the source of the noise came into view "Curse you, you adorable land shark, why do you always…" Kyoji said before seeing his Gible nomming on Gligar. "Oh. When'd you get a Gligar?"
"Last time? Sinnoh." Ash answered,calmly prying the yellow land shark off the winged scorpion. "This time, at Saffron City, right after I got shot."
"This is the first I've heard of it." the Ranseian said, walking over and literally taking Gible out of Ash's hands.
"Apparently, he hides in some corner of the ranch away from everyone." Ash deadpanned, giving him a look. "We're going to have to train that out of him."
"Well, for Gligars it kinda makes sense," Kyoji shrugged, "They like sticking to the dark - they don't like going out in the day because predators might see them - they're far harder to spot at night or in dark caves or whatnot. It's hard to train out millions of years worth of evolution."
"I guess, but still…" Ash sighed. "…so after I finish Kanto's league, where are you going Kyoji?"
"Sticking with you, obviously," The Ninja chuckled. "You're going to Johto next, right? I need to make reports of all the major regions, and send them back home. Sticking with you seems like the most direct route, and gives me the best amount of intel possible since you'll be visiting all the major cities of each region."
"Pika, Pikachu." 'I'm cool with it,' Pikachu shrugged, "Pika, Pi… Pikachu." 'He's our new Brock - he does everything he did and more… plus the convoy idea was his, and it really does make sense.'
Kyoji grinned a bit. "So glad you think so, Pikachu," He said.
"Pika… PIKA?!" 'Yeah, no… WAIT WHAT?!' He and Ash both suddenly looked at Kyoji. "Pi-Pika?!" 'Did-did you just…?!'
"Understand what you're saying?" Kyoji nodded. "Yup. Turns out, helping you and fulfilling my promise to Arceus? Best decision in my life… granted it hurt like a bitch at first, like having your brain squeezed out of your ears, but now I can understand my Gible - and he is a very happy Land Shark now."
"Gible!" 'Yup! No more miscommunications!' The Land-Shark agreed - digging back into the earth as his theme song played.
Gligar stared at the land shark as the music played out of nowhere. "Gli…" 'HOW.' he asked.
"I stopped questioning that a long time ago," Kyoji shrugged, as the Land Shark circled around them.
"…I don't really think I-" Ash started before the shinobi glared at him.
"If you're thinking of leaving them behind like you did on New Island, I am going to hit you." Kyoji snarled. "I get it: your heart's in the right place, but your brain clearly isn't working."
"First I have to figure out if I have to deal with that GS ball nonsense in the Orange Islands." Ash said, shaking his head. "Waste of damn time, that was. The only reason I didn't get on the first boat back to Kanto was the Orange League."
"They have a league?" Kyoji asked incredulously.
"Four gyms, no conference, no Elite Four." Ash answered, scoffing at the pointlessness of the whole thing. "I was stupid. I spent three months there and the only things I got for going there was Charizard finally listening to me and a trophy. And nearly dying thanks to some insane collector going after Lugia, which ALSO sent Pidgeot to Arceus knows where!"
"…wait, so he was trying to capture Lugia?" Kyoji rose his eyebrow at hat.
"No, Collect," Ash rolled his eyes, "Used these weird trap devices to catch him, and the other legendary birds - hold them up like Trophies."
"…that's fucking stupid," Kyoji mutters, "Not to mention wasteful… is that guy still around?"
"Hell if I know," He shrugged, "I can't imagine him doing it all over again with how insane the world is now."
"…still might be a wise idea to look into it," Kyoi said, "Last thing we'd want is to be caught with our pants down if this guy's still around."
"I have a good idea when he did that dumb stunt, but with everything changing…" Ash trailed off, shaking his head. "Let's go talk to Professor Oak. I want to know if I can avoid that stupid fetch quest for the GS Ball."
"Bitter, much?" Kyoji deadpanned, amused.
"I carried that thing around for months, lost it at least four times and what did I learn about it?" Ash snapped back. "Not a damn thing. I dropped it off at Kurt's and tried VERY hard to forget the damn thing existed."
"VERY bitter." Kyoji muttered.
"The GS Ball?" Oak asked, looking away from a monitor clearly showing data on Mewtwo.
"Yeah, Ash mentioned in the last timeline that you had him take care of something called a GS Ball," Kyoji shrugged - having followed Ash back. "Turned out it was some big nothing burger since nothing seemed to have come of it."
"Huh… well I'd like to punch my last timeline's self for being so ignorant then," Oak chuckled, causing the two to blink. "As it turns out, yes we have discovered a GS ball… it may be one of our most important finds in a long time…"
"Oh, why's that?" Ash groaned.
"You see… GS Balls were the original Pokeballs," Oak said, producing one of his own Pokeballs. "While the exact date of when these were created was unknown… legend says that long ago when Arceus came back for the Jewel of Life, a mythical hero used devices similar to Pokeballs to summon Pokemon to his side to help Arceus. Afterwards, when the warrior left, the people tried to mimic what he had done… but found it hard to understand the magic behind it."
As Oak said that, Ash began to internally groan 'Fucking time travel…' he muttered, before he paused 'Wait… do I have to do all that… OH COME ON!'
"However, the answer came from the people of the mythical land of Ransei," Oak said, as Kyoji perked up a bit at that. "When they were shown depictions of the hero and his devices, they worked with their greatest forgers to learn how he did it… and their efforts bore fruit with these." Oak presented them with an image of the GS ball itself. "The GS Balls… these are the original Pokeballs. So far, we've only been able to uncover empty, damaged versions… this is the first time we've ever discovered one that is not only intact… but it just might still hold a Pokemon inside."
"…wouldn't the Pokemon be dead by now?" Kyoji asked.
"Not necessarily," Oak shook his head, "From what we've gathered from damaged units, these ancient Ranseian metalsmiths were masters of their craft - they were able to do things that our modern balls could never do… namely, we believe their Pokeballs generate a near perfect stasis field within… meaning whatever Pokemon inside, could still very much be alive in there… the knowledge we could learn from it if we can figure out how to coax it out… from a time before the Cipher incident… who knows what could be inside?"
Ash nodded, then saw a Pokeball sitting in a stasis lock, the readout on the monitors indicating that it belonged to him and it was still occupied.
"…Professor… why is one of my Pokemon stuck in the ball?" he asked, the old man sighing.
"I was hoping to get rid of that damn thing." the old man muttered. "Serena sent it months ago after an attack on the Germanic. Apparently, your Sliggoo, as a Goomy, swallowed a Pokeball belonging to the attacker."
"Free Pokemon." Kyoji said, shrugging. "Criminal loses a Pokemon, you get it."
"It is far less easy and much more complicated than you think, boy." Oak said, pulling up the previous owner on a screen.
Ash glowered at the image. She had more wrinkles and stress lines… but that was Hunter J.
"…well she looks like an evil bitch." Kyoji muttered, "Who is she?"
"Hunter J," Oak sighed, "One of the top Pokemon Hunters in the world… and she's a cold-hearted bitch atop of that…"
"…and we have her Pokemon…" Kyoji muttered. "…so… what do we do?"
"Honestly, I'm content to let the damn thing die," the normally life-loving Professor said, getting a look of objection from both of them, though mostly Kyoji. Ash was more understanding of his position.
"That's the last thing I'd expect from you, Professor," the Ranseian said, glaring at him. "That is a sentient being you have locked up in that thing."
"It's a Salamence," the scientist replied, Ash giving him a look of shock before sending a thought towards Froakie. He wanted to know HOW they got J's Salamence. "She trained that thing to only obey her. I doubt anyone could make it even remotely close to normal behavior."
Kyoji blinked… before slowly turning his head towards Ash.
"…I have HISTORY with Hunter J!" Ash said, knowing what he was thinking. "That Salamance tried to kill me more than once!"
"It's either that or let it die of thirst, Ash." Kyoji asked. "I mean, Pokemon can last a LONG time, especially pseudo-legendaries, but… that's something I wouldn't wish on anyone."
"There are a lot worse ways to die," Ash said, remembering the Tree of Beginning and the Victini debacle. "I've suffered a few of them."
Kyoji sighed. "Your blood starts to thicken, you get INSANE headaches, where you actually go 'get it over with and let me die', your kidneys shut down-"
"…you sound like you talk from experience…" Oak mentioned, looking a bit concerned at Kyoji.
"…when you're forced to live on the streets after getting your folks locked up, you have to go a few days without food and water sometimes…" He sighed.
"That's… worse then the ways I've kicked the bucket." Ash said, grimacing. "Flash frozen, absorbed…"
"Absorbed?" both of them asked, as if that was an option for death.
"Tree of Beginning. I am not going back there if I have a choice." Ash said before looking at Salamance's ball. "…rehabilitating one of Hunter J's Pokemon was not on my to-do list when I woke up that morning three months ago…"
"…well, coming here and becoming your wingman wasn't on my to-do list either," Kyoji shrugged, "Among… other things…"
"If you're going to do something so painfully stupid, could you at least have a few ice-types on hand?" the professor all-but-pleaded. "As well as Garchomp and my Dragonite? Salamence only respect power. It's half the reason they're all so dangerous: constant demand to prove who's top dragon."
"And the other half?" Kyoji asked, the professor sighing.
"Gender ratio. Male Salamence are less powerful than the females of the breed, but infinitely more aggressive." the Kantoan scientist explained, even as Gible (or Garchomp, depending) dug his way to the lab doors. "And female Salamance routinely kill trainers that they deem unworthy, so that is saying something."
"Well, I'm more than willing to help ya out, man," Kyoji nodded, "Maybe having a fully-grown Charizard around might help provide a deterrent."
"Ash's Charizard is four years old. He has a LOT of growing to do before he can be even remotely considered an adult," Oak replied. "But I've seen him in battle. He's as aggressive as a Salamence with the control of an Alakazam. Dangerous. You are lucky he obeys you, Ash."
"For the first year of me having him, he didn't." Ash replied before taking the ball. "I'll get Snorunt: maybe this'll help him evolve to Glalie again."
"Seriously, HOW am I just learning about that one?!" Kyoji asked.
30 minutes later, the professor's dragonite, Charizard, Sceptile, Garchomp, Snorunt, Riolu and Unfezent joined Pikachu to deal with the unholy monster that was J's Salamance.
And judging from Noctowl, Pidgeot and the other flyers, including Rowlet of all birds… needless to say, all hands were on deck.
"…like I said," Kyoji nodded, "You've literally got an Army at your beck-and-call… if that Salamence doesn't recognize you as the top Dragon with all this, nothing will."
Ash sighed. "They're not an army. They're family." he said before looking at Charizard and Pikachu, his oldest powerhouses nodding as one.
"They can be both," Kyoji shrugged with a chuckle.
"Alright, everyone." Ash called out, getting their attention. "I'm releasing Salamence! Get ready!"
Pikachu sparked up, Quilava's back caught fire, Froakie created a water knife and so many others prepared for battle in their own way. Even little Dratini took in a deep breath.
Ash triggered the release.
The ball opened, energy spewing out and reforming into a massive blue dragon with cheek and forehead horns his head and massive red wings on his back.
"MAN!" 'I am ready for battle, mistress!' cried the Salamance, before looking around… and not seeing Hunter J. "Sal?" 'Mistress?'
"Hunter J's not here, Salamence." Ash said, getting the dragon's attention. "And I don't think she's coming back for you."
"Ash, be careful what you-" Kyoji started before Salanance reared his head back, dragonfire boiling in his mouth.
"SAL!" 'What have you done to mistress?!' The Salamance roared out.
"CHAR!" 'Shut the fuck up, you psychotic WELP!' Charizard roared, slamming his foot into the ground with a resounding Clash - causing the Salamence to flinch for a moment. "Char." 'My Brother wishes to speak to you - and you WILL show him respect.'
"Chomp!" 'Grrrrr!' Garchomp growled, standing next to Charizard with Sceptile.
Salamance looked at the Pokemon surrounding him. "Man." 'Weaklings.' he declared before using Dragonbreath on Ash.
It did nothing for one reason.
"Mi." 'Meany.'
Fairies were immune to dragonfire and Mimikyu abused this to shield Ash from the attack, Salamence roaring in rage at the rag-covered Mimikyu.
"Don't." Ash said firmly. "Your trainer abandoned you, Salamence. She left you alone."
"Salaman!" 'She did not! She will come for me! Or I will go to her once I kill you!' Salamence roared before getting an Aura Sphere to the face by Riolu.
"Ri." 'You will stay down and listen.' Riolu said, paws glowing as he prepared to fight.
"Row." 'Listen to Ash, please. We don't want to fight you.' Rowlet pleaded.
"Salamence!" 'Begging for your lives will change nothing. Now, release me and send me to my mistress!' Salamance demanded. "Ala-" 'Some of you might bring a fair-'
Sceptile smacked him in the head with a Pound, slamming his head into the dirt. "Sceptile." 'It is clear we're not going to be talking him into submission, Ash.' Sceptile said.
"Char." 'Time for plan B.' Charizard growled, a disturbing smirk on his face. "Zar…" 'Have I mentioned I LOVE plan B?'
"Please tell me plan B isn't what I think it is…" Ash pleaded before Charizard's claws turned green with draconic energy.
"Sala." 'Defeating me will change nothing.' Salamence spat. Charizard said nothing before roaring. Everyone instinctively backed off, Ash having to be dragged back by Kyoji.
"What are you-?!" Ash yelled before Salamance roared back, spreading his wings.
"This isn't a fight you want to get involved in, Ash," Kyoji said, looking at the two dragons. "Charizard's challenging him for his status as an Alpha. If Charizard wins, Salamence doesn't have a choice but to obey."
"But what if Sal-"
"It doesn't need to be said," Kyoji said, as he grinned. "I think your Charizard has this…"
Charizard spat out fire onto the dragon-type, Salamence powering through it to get to Charizard, but the younger dragon tucked in his wings, dropping to the ground before the dragon flew over him, Charizard rolling to use Dragon Claw on Salamance's belly, making him roar in pain before Charizard got back to his feet, latching onto the Dragon Pokemon's back as it flew into the lab building, his head making a large hole before Charizard dragged him out, Focus Punching him in the skull and slamming the dragon's head into the ground.
Salamence rolled, Charizard letting go and backing off, the quadrupedal dragon charging Hyper Beam to blast Charizard in the face. But Charizard charged, Metal Claw engaged before swiping at Salamance's head, bones cracking as the Hyper Beam went skyward, Salamence struggling to get it back in Charizard's general direction.
Charizard then grappled with the dragon once the Hyper Beam ended, jumping around and onto Salamance's back, biting into the dragon's neck.
Charizard enjoyed this too much. But none of them could blame him.
All Pokemon knew what it was like: the rush, the drive, the urge to enter combat. Some got their highs another way.
No one needed to know that Chanseys got off on healing.
Salamence took to the air, struggling with Charizard on his back before the dragon-type dunked them into a lake filled with water-types that saw them and got the hell out of there.
Salamance looked back to see Charizard, more pissed off than, well, DYING.
'Why does everyone propagate that stupid myth?' Charizard thought to himself before Salamance surfaced, rolling furiously in an attempt to get Charizard, quite literally, off his back.
Charizard grabbed Salamence's neck with his left arm, talons turning to steel before he raked them over the scales, making shallow, but noticeable, cuts before the Dragon Pokemon slammed into the ground, digging a large trench in the doing. Ivysaur was going to have to find a use for it, but he wasn't fixing it.
"Char." 'Submit.' ordered the Flame Pokemon before the claws regained their razor edge, ready to rip Salamence's throat open. "Zarrrrr." 'I SPECIALIZE in dealing with more powerful Pokemon then I am.'
"Salam…" 'What makes you the top Dragon over me?' Salamence growled.
"Char?" 'What makes me a good Dragon?' He asked, "CHARIZARD!" 'IF I WERE A BAD DRAGON, I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE, KICKING YOUR ASS, NOW WOULD I?!'
Salamence couldn't argue that.
"Char!" 'SO! You call yourself a dragon? I've beaten the shit out of legendaries, super-powered clones and madmen! Go ahead and tell your mistress if you get out of here!' Charizard roared, going somewhat insane. "ZARRRRRRRRRRR!" 'COME AND GET ME, I SAY! I'LL BE WAITING FOR HER WITH A WHIFF OF DRAGON FIRE! I'M AN UNHAPPY ARCEUS DAMNED TALE WITH A UNHAPPY FUCKING ENDING!'
Salamance looked into Charizard's eyes, making a low, fearful whine.
Kyoji blinked "Did Charizard suddenly get a Southern Galaran accent, or is it just me?" he asked.
"I don't know a damn thing about Galar, so I can't tell," Ash said as they slowly edged towards the sight of the landing.
J's Salamence was backing away from Charizard in sheer terror, looking behind and to the sides to find an avenue of escape. There was none: Kyoji and Ash could both see it as they were too close to the woods.
"Char…" 'Don't make me destroy you…' Charizard growled.
Salamence seemed to wince for a moment… before finally, it wordlessly lowered its head.
"Told you he'd win." Kyoji said, nudging Ash.
"Char." 'You want to know why I won?' Charizard asked before noticing Ash, smirking and pointing at his trainer. "Zar!" 'He taught me everything! Him and Pikachu showed me how to beat anyone stronger than I am! PIKACHU could have handed you your ass a lot faster than I did! But we could ALL beat you!'
Salamance looked at the yellow mouse leading Ash's little family towards the site of his humbling, Sliggoo being helped by Squirtle and Ivysaur.
The dragon's eyes turned to Ash, shaking in terror before submitting to him.
"Uh… you don't need to-" Ash started before Kyoji shook his head.
"Ease him into it. One step at a time." he said. "Trust me. I've seen it before."
Oak Lab - 15 minutes later
"This… is not what I had in mind." Samuel said as Roggenrolla and the Clone Gible fixed the hole in his wall. "Your Charizard… broke him?"
"Sounded weird, too." Ash said. "He basically yelled for Hunter J to come and get him… something about brimstone…" the professor facepalmed and groaned.
"Sweet Arceus, spare me from the Galaran accents," he said before his Dragonite cackled. He wanted to… play. "Palkia spare me-RUN BEFORE THEY START!"
The clone jumped into the ground before Roggenrolla ran from the building, firing rocks from her… organ before Kyoji got Ash into the lab.